Save Money This Halloween With These Decorating Ideas

Halloween is a holiday when I can decorate and not spend a lot of money, I just use a little imagination. For example stuffing some old shirts and jeans with newspaper can create a body for a scarecrow or someone lurking in the shadows.

Here are a few more of my money saving tips for decorating to scare away those goblins or those little candy grabbers.

Photo by David Calvert/Getty Images

Yellow Caution Tape

It's inexpensive and usually found at the hardware store. Put it up all around the yard creating a crime scene, and start setting the mood.

Make Warning Signs

Using an old cardboard box, piece of plywood or wood planks to make scary warning signs like "Enter at Your Own Risk" or "Danger Keep Out" or "Cemetery That Way".

Then give your scene a name, like "Murder on Meadow Drive" (substitute your own street name). Check out the video above for some creative ideas.

Glow in the Dark Paint

Painting yourself or other things with glow in the dark paint can take on an eerie look and will really help make you or your place look truly spooky.

In the above video learn some easy makeup tips that will have you looking creepy.

Yard Art

Making tombstones out of Styrofoam, plywood or cardboard and painting epitaphs like "R.I.P." or "Till Death Do Us Part" will give it that graveyard feel. An old wooden crate becomes a rotting casket.

Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images

Pumpkin Decorating

When using real pumpkins, keep in mind they might last 8 days after being carved before rotting begins. Try painting your pumpkins instead, they'll last up to month uncut. Then you can re-use your gourds as Thanksgiving decorations.

iStock

Making Witches, Scarecrows and Ghosts

Make a scarecrow, witch or dummy using an old shirt, jeans, boots and a hat. Stuff your dummy with newspapers and add a latex mask can complete the look. A plastic pumpkin with a white sheet over it becomes a ghost. Prop your dummy up and leave the rest to your visitor's imagination.

Just be creative and have fun. Try to be a kid at heart and have a Happy Halloween.